Protection from Hepatitis B & C
Protecting yourself
Contact your doctor immediately if you are exposed to hepatitis B. You will receive an injection of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG), followed by a series of hepatitis B vaccinations. HBIG may be given to individuals who were accidentally exposed to the virus. If given within ten days of exposure, HBIG provides temporary protection from the virus for about three to four weeks.
The hepatitis B vaccine can help prevent both HBV infection and disease. The hepatitis B vaccine consists of three injections given over the course of six months. The vaccine contains part of the surface antigen present in the hepatitis B virus. This antigen stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against the virus. The vaccine contains no other component of the virus, and cannot cause hepatitis B infection. The hepatitis B vaccine is effective in 95% of individuals. The patients that are not responsive to the vaccine tend to be older patients or immunocompromised patients. Some patients may even require a booster over time.
The hepatitis B vaccine should be considered for:
- Infants
- Children under 18 not vaccinated as infants
- Injection drug users
- People with multiple sexual partners
- People who live with an infected person
- Staff of hospitals
- People with severe kidney disease
- People with chronic liver disease
- People with HIV
- Inmates
- People who travel to or live in regions with high rates of hepatitis B
Protecting others
If you have hepatitis B or hepatitis C, there are things you can do to protect people you come in contact with from the virus, they include:
- If you are pregnant and infected with hepatitis B or C, talk to your doctor about the best way to protect your baby from the virus. Babies born to infected mothers should receive a hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) injection along with a series of hepatitis B vaccine injections. If you are HIV-positive and have hepatitis C, there is an increased risk that your baby may be born with hepatitis C or HIV. Otherwise there are no other preventive vaccinations for Hepatitis C, or treatments recommended during pregnancy for Hepatitis C.
- Cover open wounds and avoid shaving razors, toothbrushes, manicure tools, or anything else that can hold tiny amounts of blood. Be cautious about menstrual blood as well. Bloodstains should be cleaned with a disinfectant such as bleach and water. Avoid sharing hair brushes or combs because of possible scabs on the scalp.
- If you have hepatitis B, always use latex condoms when you have sex. Your partner as well as household family members should also be tested for hepatitis B surface antibody, and if negative, then they should be vaccinated. If you have hepatitis C and have had only one sex partner for a long period of time, there is only a small risk of passing the disease to your partner. Talk about this with your partner and decide together if you should use condoms.
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- Do not donate blood if you have been exposed to any chronic hepatitis virus.
- Tell health care workers (doctors, dentists, nurses, lab technicians, and others who draw blood, perform surgical procedures, or handle sharp instruments) of your infection so proper precautions can be taken. Health care workers should follow infection control procedures, such as heat-sterilizing of instruments and wearing masks and gloves if need be.
